1. Learn to avoid arguments. Getting into an argument doesn’t take wisdom. Any fool can do that. It takes wisdom to stay out of arguments. Once an argument begins, each side digs in their heels. Willingness to hear someone else’s point of view and change one’s heart becomes almost impossible. When we start to argue, the reason for the argument is quickly superseded by the hostility experienced. Proverbs 17:14 says, “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam, so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” Arguments always go farther than we want and cause more damage than we expect. We can relate to this with the spring flooding. Once a dam is breached, the water erodes more of the dam, letting more flood waters through until incalculable damage is done and the floodwaters are impossible to stop. Isn’t that a good picture of what happens when we argue? Wisdom reminds us that we should turn away from arguments, rather than lean into them.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:15–18 (ESV)

• Class Notes - PDF

1. All staff are recommended to wear a mask, face shield, or face covering when in a confined area and not able to social distance.
2. Face masks, face shields, or face coverings are recommended for all other attendees of activities or meetings.
3. All commonly touched objects and surfaces should be disinfected after use (i.e. tables, chairs, toys, etc.)
4. Screening procedures should be shared with attendees prior to an event or done as attendees enter. These should include temperature checks and symptom checks. (Can be done by attendee beforehand)
5. Every effort will be made to take attendance so attendees can be informed of any possible exposure.
6. Events and meetings should be held outside or in large open spaces with attendees appropriately spaced whenever possible
7. Quarantine or stoppage of events or activities will be determined based on Iowa Public Health and Local Public Health Guidance and recommendations
8. If an event or activity is for dependents (those under 18) and the dependents will not be able to socially distance and masks will not be required, guardians should be informed prior to the event.
9. During an event or activity, all attendees shall avoid personal contact (including, but not limited to, hand shakes, hugs, etc.) and no food or drink shall be served or brought to be shared unless it is pre-packaged.
10. Elders request we follow these guidelines until such time as local health officials rescind these type of recommendations.

Tags: Christmas

Tags: Easter, Evangelism

1. 3-5 men agreeing to meet on a weekly basis.
2. The textbook is the Bible; the Holy Spirit is the instructor.
3. Simple Leadership - one man taking responsibility for the health of the group, assuring commitment to the “Iron Man Covenant.”
4. Iron Man Groups (IMG) are composed of men at different levels of spiritual growth. Yet all men are accountable for the same purpose - continued spiritual growth.

1. Each commits to memorize a portion of Scripture of the Holy Spirit’s leading; the portion of Scripture to be memorized is up to each man.
2. The Scripture should be identified within 2 days after meeting so there is time to memorize and apply that Scripture.
3. When meeting, men take turns quoting their Scripture word for word, then share insights that the memorization and meditation process has revealed.
4. Accountability means:
5. If no Scripture is memorized, men will attend regardless.
6. You will inform your group if you cannot attend a meeting (no one should wonder where you are)
7. Iron Men meet to share failure and victory, not criticize, condemn, or lecture.
8. Confidentiality must be maintained; this is a closed group of men who will build tremendous trust with each other.
9. All men will commit to the Iron Man Covenant

1. Better fulfill our roles as Christian men
2. Better fulfill our roles as godly husbands and fathers
3. Understand the meaning and the need for responsible church membership
4. Establish deep, effective relationships with other Christian men
5. Grow the desire to make a lifelong commitment to small group accountability

1. Start with as few as 2 men but target 3-5. Over 5 becomes difficult to limit the meeting to 1 hour and men can become “anonymous.”
2. Seek to build the group with men demonstrating a range of spiritual growth; be about “disciple-making.”
3. Understand and commit to the Iron Man Covenant
4. Foundational Scripture - there is no right or wrong way to select Scripture since Iron Men are encouraged to allow the Holy Spirit to direct them. However there is high value to use “Foundational Scripture” as a starter.
5. Psalm 1:1-6
6. Proverbs - read one chapter in Proverbs daily. You will read through the Proverbs in one month.
7. Psalms - 5 Psalms per day will cover the Psalms in one month. A guide sheet will show how to rotate through a cross-section of the Psalms (example: Psalm 1, 31, 61, 91, 121. Then Psalm 2, 32, 62, 92, 122, etc)
8. Gospel of John, I John

1. We commit to only dating and marrying someone that loves Jesus.
We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. Nehemiah 10:30 (ESV)

2. We commit to faithfully keeping the day of worship and rest.
And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. Nehemiah 10:31 (ESV)

3. We commit to everybody doing a little something so my campus can operate.
We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. Nehemiah 10:32–33 (ESV)

4. We commit to giving God what is first and best in our lives.
We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the Lord; also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks; and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God;… Nehemiah 10:35–37 (ESV)

• Money — My offering check is written first.
• Serving — I plan on serving others at church first in my schedule and my vacations second, not the other way around.
• Worship — I will go to bed early on Saturday so I am not falling asleep on Sunday. I want to give my best to worship and study of God’s word.
• Bible Study - I will read my Bible as one of the first things in my day, not the last thing when I am exhausted.

Will DeBoer-Living Letter-Short Version from Kurt Trucksess on Vimeo.

Tags: Easter, CrossWinds - Spirit Lake

• CrossWinds -- Spirit Lake Campus
• CrossWinds -- Spencer Campus

1. Bible - We believe relevant, expositional Bible teaching and Christ-centered worship are the backbone of church health.
2. Community -  We believe authentic relationships that serve one another honor Christ in the life of the church.
3. Gospel - We believe the Gospel message is the power to change lives and grow the church.
4. Outreach - We believe in reaching our community by serving our community.
5. Discipleship - We believe God called us to be disciples and make disciples.
6. Family - We believe in the importance of a healthy biblical family and supporting parents in their responsibility for the spiritual health of their children.
7. Culture - We believe in engaging our culture and redeeming it for the glory of Christ.

Tags: CrossWinds - Spencer, CrossWinds - Spirit Lake

Tags: CrossWinds - Spencer, CrossWinds - Spirit Lake

Tags: Outreach

Tags: Easter

Tags: Healing, Prayer

Tags: Speech

Tags: Wealth

Tags: Trials

• Hardcover
• 128 pages